This comes barely six days after the High Court in Malawi's commercial
city Blantyre, lifted an injunction the radio station obtained
restraining the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) from
revoking its licence.
Some of the organizers of the demonstrations told the Nyasa Times that
the move aims at alerting Malawians and the international community
that the closure of Joy radio is politically-motivated.
One of the organizers Jeremiah Kandoje said the demonstrations will be
peaceful and apolitical, claiming that some of the protesters are
members of President Bingu wa Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP).
One of the directors on Joy Radio is former president and United democratic Front (UDF) national chairman Dr. Bakili Muluzi.
According to Kandoje, the demonstrations will also take place in other major cities and town including Zomba and Mangochi.
Government officials, notably information minister Patricia Kaliati,
have been calling for the closure of Joy Radio, accusing it of being
critical of the president and his administration.
Inside sources at Macra have told Nyasa Times that its board is under
massive pressure from some cabinet ministers to have Joy Radio to be
permanently taken off air for the smooth campaigning of the DPP.Â
Joy Radio was granted a licence by Macra to conduct broadcasting services on April 1, 2002.Â
On March 25, 2007 the radio was attacked by unidentified persons for broadcasting live a meeting addressed by Muluzi.
On July 13, 2007 the high court nullified composition of Macra board
after a successful application by Joy Radio that the board was illegal
and flouted provisions of the Communications Act.Â
In a related development, on October 29, 2007 Macra uprooted
transmission equipment for Joy TV, which would have been a second
television station after state-controlled TVM, claiming that the
station did not have appropriate licence because the law does not allow
dual ownership of both radio and TV.
On October 17, 2008 Joy Radio stopped broadcasting after Macra revoked
its licence, claiming the station had violated provisions of the
Communications Act by transferring its ownership to politicians, Claims
Joy Radio management described as baseless.
However, Joy Radio was back on air on October 19 after its lawyers
obtained an injunction from the High Court restraining Macra from
revoking the license.
On 20 November, the same High Court lifted the injunction, paving way for Macra close down the station again.
Joy Radio lawyers have filed an appeal with the Supreme Court and hearing is expected to start on Thursday.
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